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Finding a Quality Olive Oil

Once you taste quality olive oil, it will be hard to go back to cheap versions. Olive oil can do more than prep your sticky pan, it can add immense flavor to your meal. If you’ve ever seen people use olive oil as a salad dressing, a pasta sauce, or pizza drizzle, chances are they invested in a quality olive oil brand. Here are some tips in finding the best bottle of extra virgin olive oil!

1. Certification: Olive oils, among other products, can receive authentication as quality local products made from traditional products. If buying foreign extra virgin olive oil, look for approval from the D.O.P. (Italy), D.O. (Spain), and A.O.C. (France).

2. Dark bottles: Darker glass will protect the rich olive oil flavor from sunlight. You’ll find that the more expensive bottles will have a darker green or brown glass. To further protect your bottle from the sun, keep it in the pantry- a dark, cool place.

3. Young age: Unlike wine, olive oil is best fresh off the vineyard and should not be purposefully aged. The longer you keep your olive oil, the less flavorful the olive oil will become. Many unopened bottles can last up to two years. But once a bottle is opened, it should be used within the following two months.

4. Price: It’s difficult to find a cheap, quality olive oil without paying for the labor. However, Time also reported an olive oil shortage. Because 70% of olive oil is from Italy and Spain, both fighting bacteria and bug infestations, costs are higher than normal. But don’t lose enthusiasm.

Consider attending a local olive oil tasting event. Small samples, tasted through closed teeth, let’s the full flavor of quality olive oil shine. The strong pungency may seem surprising, but also attests to the rich, complex flavors of olives. After switching to a quality olive oil brand, it’s likely that you’ll find the taste worth the price!